Junction box for electrical circuits



June 30, 1942. MOORE 2,288,139

JUNCTION BOX FOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS Filed Aug. 15, 1941 u. 4Zh 2 Fla/67406 flaa/"e INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WlTNESS Patented June 30, 1942 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .nmc'rros pox Fifi: 132mm cracm'rs I Florence Moore, Giblonia. Pa.

Allllncltloll AIM 15, 1941, W No. 7,949

3 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrical junction boxes for electric circuits.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a simple, convenient and inexpensive device of the above mentioned character that is emcient and eiilcacious to provide means for connecting one or more power service lines at one point and to also provide an arrangement wherein connecting and disconnectingof the service lines to'or from the unit may be accomplished with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character that may be easily assembled and mounted on a ceiling or wall.

Other objects and advantages of, my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 7

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention and showing'the manner in which the same is associated with the outlet opening in a ceiling or wall,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line H of Figure 4, V

Figure 4 is a longitudinal transverse sectional view taken on line of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which the companion plate or block sections comprising a part of my invention are associated with each other and further illustrating the manner in which the service lines are connected to the device.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of iilustration isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral It designates an opening in a wall or ceiling II which is covered by the conventional wall or ceiling lamp fixture l2. It is well known that when wiring a house or room, it often becomes necessary to lead a number of service wires from approximately the same point on the trunk or feeder line. This necessitates the scraping of the insulation from the wire, the cleaning of the wire and soldering and taping each of the connections so made. 65

From time to time additional service wires may be required and it then becomes necessary to again make connection in the manner set forth above. It is, therefore, myidea to provide a junction box for all of the connections required to be made. connections may be easily disjoined and removed therefrom without in any way aflecting any of the other connections. The arrangement is unique also in that it is relatively small and compact and in that the arrangement of the parts is such that the-device may be easily fitted into a relatively small recess in' the wall or ceiling.

My invention includes a base plate I! which covers the opening It, the same being illustrated as having the longitudinally extending bars ll bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to diametrically opposed corners thereof and securely connecting with the stringers or rafters IS in the wall or ceiling. The base plate is provided at substantially its center with an opening it which registers with the opening l0 and the opening II is transversely bisected by the strap II. The junction box is supported on the plate I! rearwardl-y of the wall H and includes a box-like casing it having an open side arranged in con-' fronting relation with'the plate. As best shown in Figure 2 the casing .is substantially larger than the opening ll so that the peripheral edge thereof will abut the rearward side of the plate in surrounding relation with the edge of the opening. The companion plate or block sections it and II are mounted in superposed relation within the casing l8. The blocks are identical in their size and shape, each being substantially rectangular in plan and of substantial thickness to permit the several contacts embodying my invention to be embedded therein. The blocks or plates l9 and 20 are preferably slightly smaller than the casing I! in which they are mounted so that the peripheries thereof will be arranged in circumferentially spaced relation with the inner surfaces of the side walls of the casing.

I have here illustrated an arrangement wherein six service lines may be joined by the box, the respective lines being designated by the numerals 2f, 22, 23, 2|, 25 and 26, respectively. The first five of these service lines enter the box through the side walls of the casing I 8 and the last mentioned service line 26 extends into the lamp fixture l2 extending outwardly or downwardly from the wall or ceiling II. The fixture is preferably held against the wall by means of a bolt member 21 which includes a shank portion The junction box is unique in that the 23 extending through aligning openings in the strap I1 and plates l9 and 20 and through the closed rear wall of the housing l3. The end of the shank 28 projecting from the casing is screw threaded to receive the nut 29 which may be threaded into pressed engagement with the casing to hold all of the parts in mutually pressed relation. The plates are prevented from sliding longitudinally along the portion of the shank extending through the casing |8 by means of the ends of the B-X cable enclosing. the electrical conductors of each of the above mentioned feed lines. art and is commonly employed to enclose the electrically conducting wires extending to and from the various connections. In any event, I have here illustrated each of the lines as including a B-X cable and I have illustrated the end of the cable as extending through the vertical walls of the casing l8 and into recesses 30 in the confronting edge and upper surface of the companion plate or block I9.

I have provided each of the plates I9 and 20 with contacts which are uniquely shaped and arranged to permit the service lines connecting with the junction box to be used either separately or collectively. My invention contemplates a strip 3| of copper or other suitable electrically conducting material embedded for the major portion of its length in a groove 32 in the bottom surface of the upper plate IS. The opposite ends of the strip extend through the plate I9 and above the upper surface thereof, the extending ends of the plate being bent toward each other and against the upper surface of the plate to securely hold the strip in position and to provide means to which binding screws (not shown) may be connected for attaching the ends of the electrical conductors entering the box through the respective B-X cables hereinabove mentioned. The strip 3| is arranged in longitudinal alignment with the service line 25 and the opposite ends thereof terminate in substantially equal spaced relation with the opposite ends of the plate.

A substantially U-shaped contact lug 33 is mounted in the plate IS in longitudinally spaced relation with the strip 3| and in proximity to the end of the B-X cable carrying the service line 2|. The contact lug extends entirely through the plate l9 and the opposite ends thereof are bent toward the edge of the plate and away from the strip 3|. The end of the lug overlying the top surface of the plate similarly constitutes a means for receiving a binding screw by means of which one of the conductors of the service line 2| may be securely attached to the contact lug.

Another contact lug 34 is embedded for the major portion of its length in a groove 35 in the underside of the upper plate I 9. The strip 34 is arranged adjacent the service lines 23 and 24, and as in the case of the strip 3|, the opposite ends therein extend through the plate and above the top surface thereof. The ends of the strip 34 extending above the top surface of the plate are bent outwardly in a direction away from each other and against the top surface of the plate to provide supporting means for binding screws by means of which the electrical conductors of the service lines 23 and 24 may be attached to the mentioned ends of the strip. Attention is also directed to the fact that one end of the strip 34 is thus positioned in proximity to the electrical conductors of the service line 22.

This cable is conventionally used in the The bottom plate 20 is provided at diametrically opposed comers thereof with contact lugs 36 and 31 which extend through the block and have the opposite ends thereof bent in opposite directions and into pressed engagement with the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the plates. The end of the lug 36 overlying the top surface of the plate 20 is arranged immediately below the end of the contact lug 33 overlying the under surface of the plate IS. The end of the contact lug 31 overlying the upper surface of the plate 20 is similarly disposed'immediately below one end of the strip 34. The contact lug 36 istherefore electrically connected to the contact lug 33 andlthe contact lug 31 is electrically connected to. the contact strip 34. The ends of the contact lugs 36 and 31 overlying the under surface of the plate 20 are provided with internally screw threaded openings which receive binding screws 36 for connecting the terminal ends 39 and 4|) of the service line 26 to the contact plug. As-best illustrated in Figure 1 the conductors 39 and 40 extend into the fixture I2 and connect with a light bulb 4| or the like.

Each of the service lines 2|, 22, 23, 24 and 25 entering through the side walls of the box obviously contain two conductors. For the purpose of illustration I have here illustrated each of the service lines as extending to a service appliance of some nature as a light bulb, an electrical outlet, a switch or the like. However, it is to be understood that these service lines may supply any suitable electrical appliance.

The service line 2| is here illustrated as being connected to a switch 44 and the conductors 42 and 43 thereof are connected to the end of the contact lug 33 and to the adjacent end of the contact strip 3| respectively. The service line 22 is here illustrated as connected with a suitable power source and the conductors 45 and 46 attached to the mentioned end of the contact strip 33 and to the adjacent end of the contact strip 34 respectively. The service line 23 is illustrated as supplying current to an outlet 41 and the conductors 43 and 49 thereof are attached to the mentioned ends of the strips 3| and 34 respectively. The service lines 24 and 25 are each illustrated as connecting with a suitable light fixture designated generally by the numerals 50 and 5|. The conductors 52 and 53 of the service line 24 attach to the ends of the contact strips 3| and 34 remote from the ends hereinabove mentioned. The conductors 54 and 55 of the service line 25 are similarly connected tr: the above mentioned ends of the strips 3| and 3 The operation of the device is as follows:

If it is assumed that the switch 44 to which the service line 2|. is connected is adapted to control the operation of the light bulb 4| to which the service line 26 is connected the wires must be connected in the manner illustrated. The current may then flow from the positive side of the power source along the conductor 45 to the strip 3|, along the conductor 43, through the switch 44 and along the conductor 42 to the contact lug 33; It will be rememered that the upper end of the contact lug 36 is pressed against the lower end of the contact lug 33. The current may therefore traverse these contact lugs and flow through the conductor 33 to the light bulb 4|. From the light bulb the current will flow along the conductor 40 to the contact lug 31 which presses against the under side of the contact strip 34 so that the current may flow along the contact strip 34 to the conductor 45 which will transmit the same to the negative side of the power source.

The current may flow through the service line 25 along the conductor 45 to the contact strip 3| which will transmit the current to the conductor 54 of service line 25. The current will flow through the light bulb 5| and return by means of the conductor 55, contact strip 34 and conductor 46 to the negative side of the power source. Current from the power source may reach the service line 24 by traversing the conductor 45, contact strip 3| and conductor 52. After the current flows through the light 50 or other suitable electrical appliance it may traverse the conductor 53, conductor strip 34 and conductor 46 to the negative side of the power source. The electrical outlets 41 to which the service line 23 is connected are supplied with current from the power source in the following manner:

Current flows along the conductor 45 to the strip 3| and from this strip it flows along the conductor 48 to the outlets 41. From the outlets the current returns to the negative side of the current source along the conductor 49, contact strip 34 and conductor 46.

It may thus be seen that the present arrangement presents unlimited possibilities for connecting a multiplicity of service lines and for controlling the electrical appliances to which the several lines attach. I have here illustrated one means of wiring the several service lines to the respective contact strips and lugs carried by the expansion plates or blocks [9 and 23. However, obviously, the wiring may be arranged for instance so that the switch 44 could control any one of the lamps 5| or 50. The junction box is small and compact and may be easily fitted into a relatively small space behind a wall or above a ceiling.

It is to be understood thatthe form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit. of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. An electrical junction box comprising a pair of rectangular companion block sections of insulating material disposed in face to face engagement, the upper section having wire receiving recesses in the sides and ends thereof and longitudinally extending grooves in its upper face; strips of conducting material mounted in the grooves and extending through the upper section, the end portions of the strips being bent against the upper face of the upper section to provide contact members; binding screws threaded in the ends of the strips; a contact lug member adjacent one end of the upper section and extending therethrough, the end portions of the lug member being bent against the upper and lower faces of the upper section; a binding screw threaded in the lug member; a pair of contact lug members adjacent the ends of the lower section and extending therethrough with their end portions bent against the upper and lower faces thereof; binding screws threaded in the latter lug members, one of the latter lug members being in contact with the first lug member and the other lug member of the lower section being in contact with one contact strip; and a cover for the box, said cover being in the form of a casing 101' enclosing the said block sections.

2. An electrical junction box comprising a pair of rectangular companion block sections of insulating material disposed in face to face engagement, the upper section having wire receiving recesses in the sides and ends thereof and longitudinally extending grooves in its under face; strips of conducting material mounted in the grooves and extending through the upper section, the end portions of the strips being bent against the upper face of the upper section to provide contact members; binding screws threaded in the ends of the strips; a contact lug member adjacent one end of the upper section and extending therethrough, the en. oortions the lug member being bent against the u per and lower faces of the upper section; a binding screw threaded in the lug member; a pair of contact lug members adjacent the ends of the lower section and extending therethrough, with their end portions being bent against the upper and lower faces thereof; and binding screws threaded in the latter lug members, one of the latter lug members being in contact with the first lug member and the other lug member of the lower section being in contact with one of the said contact strips.

3. An electrical junction box comprising a pair of companion block sections of insulating material disposed in face to face engagement, the upper section having wire receiving recesses in the sides and ends thereof and longitudinally extending grooves in its under face; strips of conducting material mounted in the grooves and extending through the upper section, the end portions of the strips being bent against the upper face of the upper section to provide contact members; binding screws threaded in the ends of the strips; a contact lug member adjacent one end of the upper section and extending therethrough, the end portions of the lug member being bent against the upper and lower faces of the upper section; a binding screw threaded in the lug member; a pair of contact lug members adjacent the ends of the lower section and extending therethrough, with their end portions being bent against the upper and lower faces thereof; and binding screws threaded in the latter lug members, one of the latter lug members being in contact with the first lug member and the other lug member of the lower section being in contact with one of said contact strips.

FLORENCE MOORE. 

